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Wednesday, February 11, 2009

INNOCENT INQUIRIES

INNOCENT INQUIRIES

A child complained to his mother that he has severe stomach-ache. She told him, “It is because your belly is empty. Come and have some food.” The child obeyed. The next day the mother had a heavy head ache. The child consoled her, saying innocently, “Mommy, it is because your head is empty!”

On another occasion, the curious child asked his mother, “Mommy, why are some of your hairs turning grey?” She tried to use this occasion to reform him. “It is because of you, dear. Every bad action of yours will turn one of my hairs grey!” The child replied innocently, “Now I know why your mother has only grey hairs on her head.”

A catechist was explaining in his class the verse from Psalm 51: “Cleanse me with hyssop, that I may be pure; wash me, make me whiter than snow.” An inquisitive student asked him, “What is meant by the word, ‘hyssop’?” The teacher thought for a moment but could not recollect it. But he was reluctant to expose his ignorance before his students. He posed to be a scholar and explained that hyssop was a type of ‘soap’ used by King David to cleanse his body. The students were satisfied. But later on, they would have understood what hyssop really is and then they would have mocked at their haughty teacher. The hyssop is a Biblical bushy plant, whose twigs were dipped in sacrificial blood or blessed water and sprinkled on people or door-posts as a Jewish religious ritual for purification.

Parents and teachers often forget that children have the right to learn the truth from them. Children may try to imitate their parents and teachers as the children appreciate, admire and adore them. Children should hear and learn only the truth from their elders. Teachers, preachers and catechists need the humility to admit their ignorance in a particular matter before their students instead of imparting incorrect information, pretending to be scholars.

A true Christian should not tell a lie even if telling the truth may cause loss, suffering or pain. We should not tell a lie even if telling the lie may give us money, power or pleasure. St. Paul advises, “No more lying, then! Everyone must tell the truth to his fellow-believer, because we are all members together in the body of Christ” {Ephesians 4: 25}.

Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”{John 8: 32}. “Just say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ – anything else you say comes from the evil one {Matthew 5: 37}.

“You can be sure that on Judgement Day everyone will have to give account of every useless word he has ever spoken. Your words will be used to judge you – to declare you either innocent or guilty” {Matthew 12: 36, 37}.